Sound therapy

The juncture between Alpha and Theta brainwaves, reached by sound therapy, is often called the crossover point by neuroscientists. Here, subjects have experienced “seemingly miraculous resolutions of complex psychological problems”[3] including a significant reduction in anxiety levels[4].

Sound therapy has also found success in shifting patient anxiety before an operation[5].

Breathwork

Vagus nerve stimulation (a process, naturally activated by breathwork), actually changes the expression of genes associated with stress, immune function, energy metabolism and insulin secretion[27].

“It’s almost like yin and yang,” says Mladen Golubic of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine. “The vagal response reduces stress. It reduces our heart rate and blood pressure. It changes the function of certain parts of the brain, stimulates digestion, all those things that happen when we are relaxed.”[28]

Breathwork is extremely effective in treating depression. It has even shown success among those resistant to antidepressant medications.[30]

Neurons in the brainstem are constantly monitoring our breath patterns. Studies show that if these neurons are surgically removed, our natural stress responses are bypassed and we feel much calmer[31]. Changing your breathing rhythm has a similar effect, tricking the brain into shifting your mood.

Sound therapy

14 out of 15 patients with acute migraines (and 5 out of 6 with chronic migraines) underwent a course of ‘brainwave entrainment’ sound therapy and experienced a complete relief of symptoms in just five minutes! So a single session may be enough.[6]

Breathwork

In a recent study of 40 chronic migraine sufferers, vagus nerve stimulation (a process, naturally activated by breathwork), applied for four hours a day over three months, showed a 50% reduction in persistent headaches[29].

The part of the brain called the amygdala[32] is strongly linked to emotional processing. Studies show that stimulating the amygdala with a large inhale will allow us to identify fearful objects much quicker[33]. It therefore corresponds that when we’re in a panic state, our breathing naturally becomes faster to help us cope with dangerous situations.

When we drift off to sleep on our journey to the unconscious, our brains pass through various brainwave cycles. The act of inducing Theta brainwaves through sound therapy can shortcut this process to achieve deep, altered states; perfect conditions for stress reduction and sleep[7].

Clinical studies of vagus nerve stimulation (a process, naturally activated by breathwork) have shown to prevent weight gain in response to a high fat diet[39].

The vagus nerve plays an important role in controlling metabolism and a calorie rich diet has been shown to reduce its efficiency.

Sound therapy

Neuroscientists trained a group of alcoholics to enter Theta brainwave states (a process naturally activated by sound therapy). These participants showed a much greater recovery rate than those in a separate control group[8]. Thirteen months later, the group demonstrated “sustained prevention of relapse”, these findings were again confirmed after three years[8].

Breathwork

Vagus nerve stimulation (a process, naturally activated by breathwork) may help addicts overcome substance abuse. A groundbreaking study in VNS and cocaine use lead to a significant decrease in drug seeking behaviours among participants[40].

Breathwork, along with the relaxation response of vagus nerve stimulation, reduces cytokine production[45][46].

Eh? 😉 In English, cytokines are substances secreted by immune system cells, which connect with other cells, in search of assistance, causing buildup and inflammation.

Trials of vagus nerve stimulation (a process, naturally activated by breathwork) were carried out on 14 patients with treatment-resistant fibromyalgia. Five reported pain relief and improved physical function after just three months, twelve reached this point at eleven months and two were pain free![49]

In a separate study, three multiple sclerosis (MS) patients displaying routine symptoms of postural cerebellar tremor (PCT) and dysphagia showed sustained improvements over the course of three months[50].